US1829384A - Refrigerating apparatus - Google Patents

Description

0 7, 1931. F. w. ANDREWS REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 29. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l anon L045 Oct. 27, 1931 F. w. ANDREWS REFR IGERATING APPARATUS Filjed 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A0 /7 0 9% )M/? w w 9 4/7 iwix gww gnmnto'c M M $114M Patented ct. 27, 1931 PATE FW. ANDREWS, OF FORT WAYNE, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR, BY MIESNE ASSIGN- MEETS, TO FRIG-IDAIRE CORPORATION, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE REFRIGEBATING APPARATUS Application filed December 29, 1927. Serial No. 243,439.

This invention relates to improvements in cooling units or refrigerating elements for mechanical refrigerators.

An important feature of the invention consists in providing a cold producing or refrigerating element whose length may be readily changed so as to make it suitable for cabinets of various sizes To this end the element is constructed .of units or sections which may be suitably connected to produce an element of any desired length.

The improved element is particularly adapted for use in large commercial mechanically refrigerated cabinets of the display counter type for which elements of various lengths are needed for different sizes of cabinets. By means of the present invention it is possible to dispense with keeping in stock a variety of ready made refrigerating elements or with the necessity of making special elements for a given cabinet since any sized element may be built up as desired.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a refrigeratin element of rugged construction which wil readily withstand rough handling both during shipping and installation as well as during use.-

A still further object is to provide an improved means for increasing the radiating qualities of the element.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred form of the present invention 15 clearly shown.

in the drawings:

Fig. 1 shows'a side view of the improved refrigerating element assembled for use;

Fig. 2 illustrates a portion thereof in crosssection;

Fig. 3 is an end view of the element taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4- is a similar end view taken on line 4'l of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 shows the refrigerating element mounted in a display counter refrigerator; and

Fig. 6 is a cross-section through the refrlgerator.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the refrigerating element comprises a header 10 arranged to hold a quantity of refrigerant such as liquid sulphur dioxide. This header serves to distribute the refrigerant to the heat exchange sections connected thereto as hereinafter described. The refrigerant is led to the header by means of a pipe 11 and is conducted away therefrom above the liquid level in the header by a pipe 12. A suitable float valve 13 shown in Fig. 2 is used to control'the flow of refrigerant to the header and to maintain a constant level of liquid 14 in the header. The liquid in the header may be stratified and consist of a layer of refrigerant upon which may float a layer of oil.

The heat exchange units or sections of the refrigerating element comprise sections 15 preferably made of cast iron and provided with heat exchange fins 16 which are preferably integrally cast with the body of the section. Each end of every section is provided with a flange. In the preferred embodiment of the invention two diilerent types of flanges are used, one of which 17 is circular in crosssection and the other of which 18 is preferably substantially triangular in cross-section. By this means the header 10 may be kept as a standard article of factory stock with a round end wall or flange while at the same time permitting the cross-section of the unit or heat exchange portion of the element to be made with a bore less than a true cylinder, thus economizing on the quantity of refrigerant needed as well as permitting the use of a less massive casting.

As shown in Fig. 2 the circular flange 17 of the section is bolted to the circular end wall 9 of the header by means of bolts 19. The non-circular flange 18 is bolted to the correspondingly shaped flange 18' the adioining section and so on until a complete refrigerating element is assembled as shown in Fig. 1. indicated by 17-17', 1818'.

After the sections are connected the open end of the last section is closed by means of an end cap or cover plate 20. Suitable gasket-s, e. g. of lead or other yielding material are placed between the sections as at 21 to insure a tight seal. In the preferred embodi ment of the'invention the sections extend outwardly and longitudinally from the end of the header so as to produce a symmetrical structure. It is obvious that they may be cylindrical and of substantially the same cross-section as the exterior of the header but that in such a case a large volume of refrigerant would be required. For this reason in the preferred embodiment of the invention the bore of the sections is substantially reduced and is preferably triangular in shape as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. This permits the stratified liquid to lie therein and present a relatively large surface with a relatively shallow depth, thus increasing the eifiwise provided.

ciency of the refrigerating element. In such a case the lower portion of the radiating fins may be larger than the upper portion as shown in Fig. 2, "while at the same time the overall diameter of the element is maintained the same as the'diameter of the, header.

In operation the liquid in the header 10 consists of two stratas, a layer of refrigerant, such as liquid sulphur dioxide 8 and a layer of oil 7 which floats upon the refrigerant and which is used in the compressing apparatus for lubricating the same. This liquid distributes itself in a similar stratified manner along the bottom of the elongated refrigerating element and throughout its entire length. As the gaseous refrigerant in the header is withdrawn by pipe 12 as above mentioned. the liquid refrigerant boils off from beneath the oil layer and is withdrawn as a gas along with some of the oil. The evaporation of the refrigerant in the extended sections produces the desired refrigerating effeet. The process of boiling may cause the liquid to surge back and forth in waves through the extended section of the device and if this action is excessive it may result in liquid refrigerant, e. g. liquid sulphur dioxide being drawn into the suction tubes and returned to the compressor in liquid form thus impairing the efficiency of the same. To obviate this danger bafl'les 22 are spaced at intervals inside the element to break up the waves and these baflles are preferably for convenience interposed between the sections 15. These baflles extend above the liquid level sufliciently to break any waves that may be formed. Holes 23 are provided in the baffles to permit flow of liquid to the distant sections. These baffles are preferably made of lead and may serve as gaskets between the flanges of the sections, in which case they are cut to shape accordingly. It is apparent of course, that such baffles may even be cast integral with the inside of the sections or other-- Figs. 5 and 6 show the refrigerating element installed in a refrigerator cabinet of the display counter type. The cabinet is of eases-a the type in which foodstufi's may be refrigerated while being kept on display. It comprises essentially a structure having a food disp ay compartment 30 and a storage or machine compartment 31. The front of the cabinet facing the customers may be glazed in the well-known manner as shown at 32 While the rear is provided with glazed doors 33. The walls 34, 35 are suitably heat insu lated as by corkboard or the like while an impervous lining 36 may be provided in the display compartment.

The refrigerating element is shown dis posed in a chilling compartment or chamber 37 formed by the rear wall of the cabinet, a suitable baffle plate 38 and the bent-up por tion 39 of the lower lining 36. The bafiie 38 is positioned so as to leave fines 40 and 41 for the circulation of the air cooled by the refrigerating element. Suitable brackets 42 may be used for supporting the header and such brackets are preferably made adjustable as diagrammatically represented so that the element may be maintained level in order to insure proper functioning thereof.

The header is connected to a compressor unit of the refrigerating apparatus (not shown) which may be disposed in the machine compartment 31 if desired.

The installation of the refrigerating element in such a display counter is a simple matter since it is merely necessary to connect as many sections to the header as is required by the length of the chilling chamber of the counter.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A refrigerating element for mechanically refrigerated cabinets comprising header means, tubular heat exchange members attached to said header means and extending longitudinally from said header and the same direction therewith to form an elongated structure, the bore of said members being substantially less and at a higher level than that of said header, said members being pro vided with fins terminating substantially at the lower horizontal plane of the header means.

2. A refrigerating element for mechanically refrigerated cabinets comprising a relatively long and narrow chamber, means for maintaining a predetermined level of volatile tively long and narrow chamber built up of a plurality of sections, means for maintaining a predetermined level of volatile liquid refrigerant in said chamber, baffle means between said sections, said bafile means being adapted 'to prevent the formation of liquid waves in said chamber.

4. A refrigerating element for mechanically refrigerated cabinets comprising a relatively long and narrow chamber, means for maintaining a predetermined level of volatile liquid refrigerant in said chamber and means for preventing the formation of liquid waves withinsaid chamber, said wave-preventing means comprising baffles adapted-substantially to prevent the formation of waves and to break up such waves when formed, said baffles being provided with perforations to permit unhindered flow of liquid to all parts of said chamber.

5. A refrigerating element for mechanically refrigerated cabinets comprising a relatively long and narrow chamber built up of a plurality of sections, means for maintaining a predetermined liquid level in said chamber, gaskets between said sections, said gaskets extending into the chamber and being adapted to prevent the formation of liquid waves in said chamber.

6. A relatively long, narrow, and symmetrically fashioned cooling unit for mechanically refrigerated show cases or the like comprising, a plurality of elongated, hollow, and

horizontal sections having their open ends removably connected with one another, the opposite ends of such structure being closed to provide a horizontally elongated refrigerant containing chamber, one of said sections providing an enlarged chamber portion, means in said section for providing refrigerant from rising above a certain level and vertically disposed cylindrical shaped fins formed integrally with another of said sections.

In testimony whereof I hereto afiix my sig- FRANK W. ANDREWS.

nature.

Images